Mechanism for transferring glassware



y 1935.. A. WQBEESQN MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING GLASSWARE Filed Feb. 7, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 r o t n e v n 3 Jufly 9, 13.

MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING GLASSWARE Filed Feb. 7, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zinnentcr A. w. BEESON 2,007,52

Jufly Q, 193.. A. W. BEEsoN 2,@@7,592

MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING GLASSWARE Filed Feb. 7, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 9, 1935 Arthur WhBeeson", Washington, Pa, assignorto Hazel-Atlas Glassv Company, Wheeling, W. Va.,

H a corporation of West Virginia I I v Application February. a, 1934, Serial No. 110,150 1 ;13 Claims. (o l "19 s -"2f2) The invention relatesv particularly to means for transferring. glassware fromone' conveyor to another, and steadying the ware during its movements so-that it will not-topple over. i

For the purpose of illustration ithe' invention is shownin combination with an intermittently rotated escalator and. a continuously rotating disc conveyor, both of which are old and per se form no part of the present invention. The es'- calator is of a well known type having a plurality of segment plates which are rotated intermittently-g, the, plates being successively-elevated fromthe plane where they receive the ware from the formingma'ohine to the plane of the conveyer'which is' to carry the ware to the. leer.-

As each plate reaches the plane of the conveyer, a revolving disc in this particularinstance, the piece of ware is moved from the plate 'to the oonveyer. The movements of the escalator tend to topple the, wareover, and. there-is :also a tendency for it. to topple over while beingmoved from the escalator to the leer. Also, it is necessary to have blasts of cooling airZblowing in various directions, and these'blasts often topple over ware of certain types.

An object ofthe presentinventionis steady whileitis being deposited on the esca- 1ator,whi1e it is being carried by the escalator various parts when'an article is about to be transferred from the escalator to the revolving disc; and

Figure 4 isa side elevational view showing two pair of steadying and vtransferring 1 arms, forto -pro-- videv a mechanism which will hold the ware the escalator to the place of the disc conveyer shown. As the ware is carried in frontoftheleer, rows are successively fed into the leer by any desired means, as by a pusher arm 3 of a leer loader (not shown). 1

Numeral 4 refers generally to an escalator for elevating the ware delivered from a forming machine to the planeof'theconveyer I. The escalator may be of any desired type, but for, purposes of illustration there is shown a well known type having .a plurality of segment plates 5. The escalator is rotated-step by step in timed relation with the, glass forming machine (not. shown); aThis step by step movement in-timed relation with the forming machine is usually effected by means of a gear 6 which meshes .with a gear (not shown) :on the forming machine'and with a gear 1 on the; escalator. .As the molds of the forming machine come --to the delivery station the bottles or other articles are removed and placed on the --segment plates 5, preferably-by some formof; take-out device such as diagrammatically'illustrated in. Figure 1:; and referred to by numeral-8;. The 'segment plates are'elevated one step'each time the escalator is rotated one step; and when each segment-plate comes to a stop in the plane of'the conveyer, the ware is removed. The means for'fsteadying rthe ware while it is beingdeposited upon the escalator and transported'thereby, for transferring the ware from 'the escalator to the conveyer, and for 30 steadying the ware' during this transfer, 'will nowbedescribed. g v i j Secured to each of the-segment plates 5; adjacent the inner ends thereof, is a member 9 to which is secured a vertically extending rod l0. Twobrackets II and 'l 2 are adjustably clamped to the rod III by means of set screws l3 and I4; and rods 15 and 16 are adjustably mounted in the brackets by meansof set screws l1 and I8. The rods I5 and-,I 6-carry at'their'outer ends article receiving forks l9 .and 2B, of substantially V-shape. 'Therb'ottlesor other articles, when delivered from the'forming machine to the escalator by 'the take-out device, are received by these fork members which steady the article while being released "by the take-out device, and alsosteady it and preventit from being toppledover by the blasts of coolingair or by the movements of the escalator. The forks l9 and 20 can be adjusted 50 inand out; andcan be rotatably adjusted by the set screws l! and :18; and they can be adjusted about the rod l0 and arranged at the desired heightby the set screwsYl3-an'd l4, so that they will-take care of ware of various sizes and shapes.

As described above the forks l9 and 20 steady the ware and maintain it in proper position while it is being placed on the escalator and while it is being transported by the escalator to the point where it is to be transferred to the disc or other conveyer for carrying it across the front of the leer. The means for transferring the ware from the escalator and for steadying the ware during such transfer will now be described.

Numeral 2| refers to a transfer arm which is so positioned that it will be in back of each piece of ware successively brought to the transfer station'. This arm is clamped or otherwise secured to a shaft 22, and this shaft is periodically rotated v function with the lower pair of elements 2| and in opposite directions to oscillate-the transfer arm 2 l, by means to be described hereinafter. I

Attached to and movable with the arm 2| is a bracket 23, in which bracket is mounted a clamp 24. This clamp can be vertically and rotatably adjusted by means of a set screw 25. The clamp 24 carries two brackets, 26 and 2l. Mountedin bracket 26 is a clamp 28, which can be vertically and rotatably adjusted by means of set screw 29; and mounted in bracket 21 is a clamp 30 which can be vertically and rotatably adjusted by means I of set screw 3|. 7

Mounted in the clamp 28 is a rod 32, which can be adjusted longitudinally and rotatably by means of the set screw 33. This rod 32 leads'to a point adjacent the end of the transfer arm 2|, and the end of the rod is turned to form an abutment 34. This rod is termed a stop and steadying rod, and its functions will be best understood by reference to Figure 3. In this figure a glass container A is shown at the transfer station ready to be transferred to the continuously revolving disc I. It will be noted that the container is arranged in the forks I9 and 20, that the transfer arm 2| is in back of the container, and that the stop and steadying rod is in contact with one side of the container. This rod is accurately adjusted for the particular ware being handled, so that just as each segment plate 5 comes to a stop atthe transfer station, the abutment 34 will lightly engage the container and arrange it snugly between the abutment, the tines of the forks and the transfer arm 2|. Thus the container is steadied and properly positioned when it is brought to a stop, ready to be transferred. The transfer arm 2| is now swung over to the conveyer I, by means to'be described hereinafter, and of course the stop and steadying rod 32 travels with it, so that the container is carried through an arc, with the transfer arm on one side of the container and the abutment 34 on another side thereof. Thus the container is steadied throughout its transfer. w f

To assist in steadying the articles as they are placed on the disc I and also to assist in properly aligning the articles on the disc, there is pref erably provided a guide and steadying member 35, having in the specific form illustrated, three fingers 35. This member is mounted in a clamp 36 and can be adjusted longitudinally and rotatably by means of a set screw 31-. The clamp35 is carried by a bracket 38, and the clamp can be rotatably adjusted or be adjusted-up or down by means of aset screw 39.. Thus 'the steadying and guide member 35 with its fingers 35 can beadjusted to any. desired position; and when a bottle or other article is transferred to the disc" as hereinbefore described, it will be prevented from toppling over by these fingers. v

In the handling of tall ware, it is desirabllelto 7 use two pair of transfer arms and steadying 7 42, and this rod is provided with an abutment 43 at its end. The rod 42 is mounted in clamp 24, and the rod can be longitudinally and rotatably adjusted by means of the set screw 44. The upper pair of elements 40 and 42 correspond in 32, and further description thereof is accordingly unnecessary; it being understood that the elements 40 and 42 are particularly used with tall ware, and that they can be adjusted vertically, as well as in other directions, to suit the particular ware being handled.

' 'To'assist in properly positioning the ware on the escalator between the forks I9 and 20, there may be provided a guide rod 45 which is adjustably mounted ina clamp 46 by set screw 41.

The apparatus for periodically oscillating the transfer arm 2| and'associated parts will now be described; but it will be understood. of course, that any desired means may be employed for this purpose. I

Numeral 48 refers to an air cylinder which operates the piston rod 49. Air pipes 50 and 5| lead to opposite ends of the cylinder, and the admission of air under pressure to opposite ends of'the cylinder may be controlled by cams (not shown) timed with the forming machine; or if the-apparatus is used with a Lynch'machine then the air cylinderis controlled by the valve which controls the Lynch machine. The line 501s preferably provided with a cushioning valve 52 to cushion the operative stroke of the transfer arm 2|.

A connecting rod 53 has one of its end pivotally connected withthe piston rod 49, and its other end pivotally connected with an arm 54 clamped or otherwise secured to the shaft 22 which carries .at its upper end the transfer arm 2|. Thus when air'under pressure is admitted to the left end of the cylinder 48 (Fig. 2) the transfer arm 2| is swung to its inoperative position, and when the pressure is admitted to the right end of the cylinder the transfer arm and associated parts are given their operative stroke to transfer the bottle or other article from the escalator to the disc I; this stroke being cushioned by the valve 52 in line 50 through which the air from the left end of the cylinder is exhausting during this stroke.

The disc conveyer is continuously rotated by any desired means, as by motor 55, reducing gear 56, worm gear 51 and shaft 58.

A very brief description of the operation of the apparatus will be sufficient, as the functions of the various elements have been made clear in connection with the description of the apparatus. The articles are successively removed from the molds of the forming machine and placed on the segment plates of the escalator by any desired means, as by the take-out device 8. The forks are so positioned and adjusted that they will receive each article deposited on the escalator, andwill prevent the article from toppling over when released by the take-out device. The stepby step movement of the escalator elevates the articles to the plane of the disc I or other 7 in several directions.

conveyer for carrying the ware across the face of theleer. The articles whileon the escalator are subjected to blasts of cooling air from various directions; and these blasts together with the movements of the escalator, tend to topple over the ware, particularly ware of certain types,

The forks firmly maintain the ware in an upright position while being deposited onthe escalator and while being transported by the escalator to the transfer station. a a

As each bottle or other article comes to a stop at the transfer station, the transfer arm 2| is in back of the bottle and the abutment 34 of the steadying rod 32 engages one side of the bottle, so that with the forks the bottle is steadied The air cylinder 48 now operates the piston rod 49 to cause the transfer arm 2! and the steadying rod 32 to be swung over to the continuously revolving disc I, thereby carrying the article through an arc to av position a on the disc. And of course the bottle is steadiedand prevented from toppling over during this transfer by the steadying rod 32. As previously mentioned, and as illustrated in Fig. 4, two pair of transfer arms and steadying rods are preferably employed in the handling of tall ware.

As each piece of ware reaches the disc I it is prevented from toppling over by the fingers 35 of the steadying member 35. This member also assists in properly aligning the articles as they are carried'forward by the disc, so that the articles are in a well formed line when they pass in front of the leer, and are thus properly positioned to be swept onto the leer conveyer by the pusher arm 3 or other suitable leer loading device.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have devised simple and inexpensive means by which the ware delivered from a forming machine is steadied Y and prevented from toppling over while being placed on the escalator, while being transported by the escalator, and while being transferred from the escalator to the conveyer which carries the ware across the face of the leer. While I have particularly described the invention in connection with an escalator, yet it will be apparent that some features of the invention are in no manner limited to use with an escalator, but are of general application in the transfer of glassware from one conveyer to another. And while the particular apparatus illustrated has been described in considerable detail, yet it is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

veyer, anv open-sided ware steadying member mounted on each segment, an oscillatable arm in substantially the plane of the conveyer for removing ware from the escalator, and means for ments for elevating ware to the plane of a conveyer, substantially V-shaped steadying members mounted on the segments and adapted to receive the were from a forming machine, a movable arm in substantially the planeof the conveyer, and'means for moving saidarm to transfer, the ware when the ware reaches the plane of the conveyer. i

4. Apparatus for transferring glassware, including an escalator having'a plurality of segments, substantially V-shaped steadying members mounted on the segments, means for adjusting the members vertically and horizontally, and means for removing the ware fromthe members.

5. Apparatus for transferring glassware, including a rotatable carrier, a movable arm for transferring ware from the carrier, a ware steadying abutment associated with said arm, the rotation of the carrier bringing an article into cooperative relationmwith the arm and abutment, and means for moving the arm and abutment to transfer the article from the carrier.

6. Apparatus for transferring glassware, including a rotatable carrier, a movable arm for transferring ware from the carrier, a ware steadying abutment associated with said arm, means for adjusting the position of the abutment with respect to the arm, the rotation of the carrier bringing an article into cooperative relation with the arm and abutment, and means for moving the arm and abutment to transfer the article from the carrier.

7. Apparatus for transferring glassware, including an intermittently rotated carrier, a movable arm for transferringware from the carrier, a ware steadying member associated with said arm, said member so positioned that an article is substantially in contact therewith when the carrier stops, and means for moving the arm and steadying member to transfer the article from the carrier.

8.-Apparatus for transferring glassware, including an intermittently .rotated carrier, an oscillatable arm for transferring ware from the carrier, a ware steadying member associated with said arm, said member so positioned that an article is substantially in contact therewith when the carrier stops, and means for oscillating the arm and carrier to transfer the article from the carrier.

9. Apparatus for transferring glassware, including an escalator for elevating ware to the plane of a conveyer, a movable arm in substantially the plane of said conveyer, a ware steadying member'associated with said arm, and means for moving the arm and member to transfer-the ware when the ware reaches the plane of the conveyer,

10. Apparatus for transferring glassware, in-

cluding an escalator having a plurality of segments, a ware steadying member mounted on.

each segment, a movable transfer arm, a ware steadying device associated with said arm, and means for moving said arm and ware steadying device to remove ware from the escalator.

l1. Apparatus'for transferring glassware'including an escalator having a plurality of segments, a substantially V-shaped ware steadying member mounted on each segment, an oscillatable transfer arm, a ware steadying abutment 13. Apparatus for transferring glassware, including a conveyer, an escalator for elevating ware to the plane of the conveyer, said escalator having a plurality of segments, a ware steadying member mounted on each segment, a movable arm for transferring ware from the escalator to the conveyer, a ware steadying abutment associated with and movable with said arm, and a ware steadying device over said conveyer adapted to steady ware delivered by said arm.

ARTHUR W. BEESON. 

